The great speedometer experiement...conclusion.

[Burl Vibert]

Hi Dave

I'm trying to get my 5000 ready for what must be the same rally as you
are and I have the same problems as you are having.   My speedometer
and odometer weren't working,  highly unusual for a 5000;-)

I took the gauge cluster apart and found the four pin connector going
from the speedometer to the cluster had cracked solder joints where
they attached to the speedometer board.  A few minutes with a
soldering iron and my needle stopped jumping around like your's was
also doing.  Unfortunately my odometer is still pooched, not sure why
as I loaned my Bentley to a friend so I don't have a diagram right
now.  Mechanically I haven't found anything wrong with the odometer
yet.  I have a spare from a wreck which I may try next.

BTW, also tried out the G-tech Pro last night.  For some reason the
cigarette lighter power went out whenever I turned on the lights so I
had to do it in the dark with no gauges. I know, highly unusual for a
5000 to have flaky electrics;-)
Anyhow, managed 0-60mph in 8.05 seconds, 1/4 mile in 16.1 @ 86.7mph,
only tried 2 runs.

Later.

Burl Vibert
1987 5kcstq
Kingston, Ontario



Dave Hord wrote:
>
> Quick background: needed a second odometer in front of my navigator for this
> coming weekend...the rally computer died recently.
>
> Following Huw's suggestion of getting a speedometer for my car out of a wreck,
> I went looking.  Picked up a 5000 electronic speed, which although not made for
> my car, would probably work.
>
> After some help from another lister as to the wiring diagram for the 5000
> speedo (sorry, your name/email is on my other computer) I wired the speedo up
> to my car.
>
> I spliced into teh speedo imput signal right behind my instrument cluster.  I
> spliced into my external tachometer for + and - power. All connections were
> wrapped and electrical taped for a temporary test.
>
> Two days of driving taught me two things:
>
> 1) there was a loose connection somewhere
> 2) I remembered that the 5000 has a different tire diameter, therefore a
> different number of pulses per kilometer...thus my 'external' gauge is off my
> about 10%.
>
> I soldered the connections figuring that it would solve the loose
> connection...and went driving again.
>
> Apparently the 5000 speedo unit I picked up for $50 (entire cluster) is rather
> flaky. It works...and well...for a while, and then just suddenly stops
> working...and then suddenly starts again.  It's rather entertaining to watch a
> speedometer jump from 0-140km/h in less then a second...
>
> I highly recommend this upgrade, it appears it's worth close to 1500 horsepower!
>
> Anyways, a flaky external odometer wouldn't work for me regularly, yet alone
> rallying...so I cut the connections and did what I should have done from the
> begining...
>
> I'll post photos on my website in early march about how I wired up three
> cycling compters to display all the information we need, in front of both the
> driver and the navigator...
>
> Cost me $40, and an afternoon...well, okay $90 if you count the pooched 5000
> speedo!
>